Ken Sibley and his firm NRG Systems won best environmentally sustainable design, non-residential in this year’s Building Designers Association of Victoria honours.

At the association’s annual dinner in Melbourne on Friday, the Winton Wetlands hub was recognised as sensitive to its environment, technically innovative and socially engaging.

Measuring 385sq m, the building can cater for about 200 people through its function room, cafe, toilets, commercial kitchen and cool room. There is a ranger’s office, administration area, separate meeting room, storage and undercover car parking.

Mr Sibley was familiar with the restoration of the 8750 hectare wetlands site, which followed the decommissioning of Lake Mokoan.

“I’ve lived in this area most of my life, in the ‘80s and ‘90s I used to windsurf on that lake,” he said. “I was aware that the lake was dying and when it was decommissioned it was sort of a bit of a thrill for me to have it go back to what probably it should have been. To be part of the regrowth of the whole area has been rather jolly.”

The hub makes use of stone and recycled timber, with the design minimising the use of plastics and volatile organic compounds.

A straw ceiling system provides thermal and acoustic benefits. The roof aims to mimic the nearby rolling hills while waste treatment is provided by a giant worm farm.

“There’s no chemicals involved, it’s all the little worms doing their own thing,” Mr Sibley said.

Benalla’s Landmark Construction Group completed the project, which opened in June last year.

Mr Sibley said everyone involved, including the wetlands staff and committee of management and the Yorta Yorta Nation, worked together harmoniously.

“This is a very responsible method of architecture and something that probably should be adopted more so in general architecture to keep our planet fresh and young,” he said.